The drive from Greeley, CO to Aurora, CO covers 64 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on County Road 49, I 76, E-470 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.9 miles on County Road 49.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.64 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 64 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 64 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
County Road 49 is the longest continuous segment at about 21.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 43.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64 miles you will encounter 22 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 43.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
43.7 mi into trip|~52m in
Take the exit toward E470 Toll South: Limon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward E470 Toll South: Limon
8
51.6 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward Denver International Airport, Pena Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28
Toward Denver International Airport, Pena Boule...
8
51.8 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Peña Boulevard West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28B
Toward Peña Boulevard West
8
59.2 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs, Peoria Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 282
Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs, ...
7
59.6 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 282
Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Greeley, CO and Aurora, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll South: Limon, Denver International Airport, Peña Boulevard West and Colorado Springs.
E470 Toll South: Limon
43.7 mi in|~52m
Denver International Airport
51.6 mi in|~1h 1m
Peña Boulevard West
51.8 mi in|~1h 1m
Colorado Springs
59.2 mi in|~1h 10m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
County Road 49
21.9 mi
25m
I 76
15.8 mi
15m
E-470
6.9 mi
6m
Peña Boulevard
6.6 mi
8m
18th Street
2.7 mi
4m
I 225
2.2 mi
2m
10th Street
1.1 mi
1m
East 18th Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
County Road 49
— 21.9 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greeley, CO and Aurora, CO.
1
Start on 19th Avenue
262 ft·18 sec·19th Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 34 Business
0.1 mi·16 sec·9th Street
3
Turn left onto 21st Avenue
495 ft·29 sec·21st Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 34 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·10th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 34 Business; US 85 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·8th Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto US 34 Business
2.7 mi·4 min·18th Street
Use the left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto East 18th Street
0.2 mi·12 sec·East 18th Street
8
Continue on East 18th Street
0.9 mi·1 min·East 18th Street
9
Turn right onto CR 49
22 mi·25 min·County Road 49
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 76 West
11
Merge onto I 76
16 mi·15 min·I 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 18Toward E470 Toll South: LimonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto E470
6.9 mi·6 min·E-470
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 28Toward Denver International Airport, Pena BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 28BToward Peña Boulevard WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto Peña Boulevard
6.6 mi·8 min·Peña Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 70
0.1 mi·8 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·35 sec
Exit 282Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs, Peoria StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 282Toward I 225 South: Aurora, Colorado Springs
20
Continue on I 225
2.2 mi·2 min·I 225
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 9Toward CO 30: 6th AvenueUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn right onto CO 30
0.3 mi·31 sec·East 6th Avenue
Use the right lane.
23
Turn right onto Vaughn Street
257 ft·12 sec·Vaughn Street
24
Turn right onto North Zion Street
509 ft·27 sec·North Zion Street
25
Turn left onto North Vaughn Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·North Vaughn Street
26
Arrive at destination
North Vaughn Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 32 miles from Greeley, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Aurora, CO
The final approach into Aurora, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.64 one way
$19.29 round trip
$3.83/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.05
$10.21
$20.42
premium
$4.39
$11.07
$22.14
diesel
$5.61
$14.13
$28.26
Estimated Tolls: $0.83
E-470
(6.9 mi)$0.83
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.2
0
$6.72
$3.07
Efficient EV
16
0
$5.60
$2.56
EV Truck/SUV
25.6
0
$8.96
$4.10
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Greeley, CO
Night
in Greeley on Friday
Local time
9:26 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Snow Showers Likely
N 21 mph66% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 5:39PM MDT until April 17 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 2:46PM MDT until April 18 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Denver CO
Destination
Aurora, CO
Night
in Aurora on Friday
Local time
9:26 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Chance Snow Showers
N 14 mph37% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 5:39PM MDT until April 17 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Pueblo CO
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 2:46PM MDT until April 18 at 8:00AM MDT by NWS Denver CO
44°F
Brighton, CO
32 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 18m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Greeley, CO to Aurora, CO covers 64 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are County Road 49, I 76, E-470. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32 miles from Greeley, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.64 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64 miles you will encounter 22 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 43.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Greeley, CO and Aurora, CO, road signs point toward E470 Toll South: Limon, Denver International Airport, Peña Boulevard West and Colorado Springs.
